AutoCAD® 2012 FOR DUMMIES®

Commanding and Selecting

AutoCAD offers three styles of editing:

• Command-first editing
• Selection-first editing
• Direct object manipulation (grip editing)

AutoCAD refers to command-first editing as verb-noun editing and to selection-first editing as noun-verb editing. When you see this terminology — for example, in the Options dialog box or the online help system — don't worry, you haven't dropped back into your fifth-grade English class!

Command-first editing

With command-first editing, you start a command and then select the objects on which the command works. This style of editing may seem backward to you at first unless you're a longtime AutoCAD user. Command-first editing works well for power users who are in a hurry and who are willing to memorize most of the commands they need to do their work. It's also the only way to use some of the editing commands (such as FILLET and BREAK). It's no surprise that command-first editing is the traditional editing style in AutoCAD, and the one method with which you need to be most comfortable.

Selection-first editing

In selection-first editing, you perform the same steps — in the same order — as in most Windows applications: Select the object first, and then choose the command. Selection-first editing tends to be easier to master and makes AutoCAD more approachable for new and occasional users.

Direct object manipulation

With direct object ...